What if I fail in 1 Subject in CA Foundation?

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) conducts CA exams every year. To become a Chartered Accountant, candidates are required to qualify the three levels of CA exams: CA Foundation, CA Intermediate and CA Final.

Since CA exams are considered to be among the toughest exams, what if a candidate fails in any subject in CA Foundation? This question is very often in the back of a student’s mind appearing in the exam.

In this article, Careers360 brings answers to this question asked by CA foundation candidates i.e. what if I fail in 1 subject in CA Foundation? Will I be considered qualified? Do I need to reappear in all subjects again? If yes then when can I reappear? Find out the answers right here in this article.

Let us look at some of the basic questions asked by students who fail to secure passing marks in 1 subject in the CA Foundation exam.

Will I be considered qualified even if I fail in one subject in the CA Foundation exam?

To qualify the CA Foundation exam, you need to secure a minimum of 40% marks in each subject and an aggregate of 50% marks.

Hence, if you fail in one subject, you will not be considered as a qualified candidate.

Can I reappear in the CA Foundation exam even after failing in one subject?

Yes, you can reappear in the CA Foundation exam till the time your registration period is valid. ICAI does not post any restrictions on the number of attempts that a candidate can appear in.

However, candidates must keep in mind that the registrations of CA Foundation are valid for three years in which each candidate is appear for maximum six attempts. Post these 6 attempts, candidates have to re-register themselves to appear in CA Foundation exam.

Can I reappear in the subject in which I have failed? Or do I need to appear in all subjects?

To qualify in the CA foundation exam, you have to pass all the papers with the requisite marks in one sitting. So you need to appear in all the papers in the next attempt, even if you fail in one paper.

Also note that no exemptions are granted to candidates securing more than 60% marks.

Quick Links-

CA Foundation Result 2021

CA Foundation Pass percentage 2021

When can I reappear in the CA Foundation exam?

After registration you will have a total of 6 attempts. To make it more understandable, suppose you have appeared in the CA Foundation 2021 June session and could not qualify. Then in such a case you can either appear in the following December session exam or in any of the upcoming sessions till your CA Foundation registration is valid.

Points to remember -

• You can reappear in CA Foundation exam till your registration is valid

• You will not be allowed to register for CA intermediate exams unless you clear all the subjects with minimum passing marks

CA Foundation 2021: Passing Criteria

ICAI has pre-fixed minimum passing criteria for the CA Foundation subjects. All candidates must pass the CA Foundation exam with minimum 40% marks in each subject and an aggregate of 50% in total.

Passing Criteria

Also note that in order to qualify for the second level i.e. CA Intermediate exam, it is required for candidates to clear all four subjects of CA Foundation with minimum passing marks.

Quick Link:

CA Foundation Study Material

Preparation tips for CA Foundation Exam

Since you will be reappearing in the CA Foundation exam, some the basic preparation tips to keep in mind are-

Understand the CA Foundation Exam Pattern clearly

Details related to the mode of exam, number of questions asked, marking scheme and related details are mentioned under the exam pattern. ICAI officially defines the paper pattern and the CA Foundation result is released according to the marking scheme defined in the paper pattern.

Exam Pattern:

For reference,

CA Foundation exam dates

Make Sticky Notes/ Flash Cards

If you are finding any topic difficult to understand and learn, try to make use of colorful sticky notes or flashcards. Using these tools is an effective way of organizing the workflow and also helpful in remembering topics. Flash cards and sticky notes are strategic ways of recalling things/ topics during study times.

For best books for CA Foundation - click here

Practice Mock Tests/ Sample Papers

Mock tests and sample papers can add teeth to your exam preparation. For example, you can improve accuracy as well as improve your average question solving time by practicing mock tests and sample papers.

Quick Link:

CA Foundation Sample Papers

CA Foundation Study Material

CA Foundation Parting Tip

Above all, do not lose hope even if you have failed in any one subject of the CA Foundation exam. With the right preparation strategy and time management you can definitely achieve success.